Para las Tejanas: Confederate Widow Pensions in South Texas, 1899-1936

Distant from the hallowed battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, South Texas has historically been overlooked for the role Tejanos played in the Civil War. This Master's Thesis seeks to illuminate the lasting impact the Civil War left on the community of South Texas into the 20th century. Through a focus on Webb County's Confederate widow pension application files we can analyze how Tejanas (women residents of Texas of Mexican descent) negotiated the state for compensation through their late husband's service. Additionally, their applications demonstrate how Tejano men within the community advocated to ensure Tejanas gained their right to financial assistance. Incorporating a study of the evolution of the pension law, we can see how the welfare system utilized race, class, and gender to decide who could receive a pension.